I grew up at least an hour and a half’s drive from a fast food restaurant. I think Dairy Queen would have been the closest. I remember feeling like country was turning to city when we drove past it on our way to Grandma Wilma’s place up in St. Louis. I do have one fast food memory that almost counters my recollections of the strawberry sundaes at Dairy Queen — the McDonald’s McRib — which took about two hours to drive to get.

If you’re in my friend circle, you know that I HATE ketchup (along with the thought of egg shells in my omelet — all horrible thoughts). However, I adore barbecue sauce. Growing up, the McRib sandwich was the pinnacle of yumminess. Back then, I didn’t stop to ask why it was shaped to resemble real ribs with bones and all. I just thought it was handy that I didn’t have to pick around actual bones!

Well, folks, the artificial diva is back for six weeks only. That in itself would be interesting enough (as a flash from the past), but check this out — the sandwich returns on November 2nd — Election Day in the U.S. I was just reading on the NPR website that some “say it’s a toss-up as to whether they will line up first at the polling place or at McDonald’s”! 

Okay… so now I am officially worried for humanity. Not only are we still okay to eat food-like products like the McRib, but we’re also not sure what is more important, democratic participation or chowing down on fake food? Frown

Melanie Redman

Melanie Redman

Melanie Redman is a Social Mission Collaborator with more than 10 years of direct experience in strategic, leadership and advisory roles across the social mission sector in the U.S. and Canada. She...